Effect of C. cyminum and L. sativum on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Antidiabetic Drug Gliclazide.

BACKGROUND: Numerous herbs are reported to have anti-hyperglycemic activity and are frequently used in combination with prescription drugs to lower the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, without proper knowledge about the possibility of herb-drug interaction. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of cumin and garden cress on pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of gliclazide (GLZ) in nicotinamide-streptozotocin diabetic model. METHODS: Diabetic animals of groups II-IV were treated with GLZ, cumin, 'cumin + GLZ', garden cress and 'garden cress + GLZ'. Herb's treatments were given for two weeks, and GLZ was administered in a single dose. Blood glucose levels (BGLs) were measured at pre-determined time points. Plasma samples of pharmacokinetic study were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. GLZ fragment at m/z 324.1>127 was monitored. RESULTS: Cumin and garden cress have shown 15.3% and 15.9% reduction in mean BGL (1-24h) (p-value < 0.001), respectively. GLZ reduced mean BGL by 30.0%, which was significantly better than cumin and garden cress (pvalue <0.05). Concurrently administered "garden cress + GLZ" demonstrated the highest reduction in mean BGL (by 40.46%) and showed a prolonged effect. There was no significant advantage of simultaneously administered 'cumin + GLZ'. Cumin did not affect PK of GLZ. Garden cress has significantly enhanced AUC0-t (by 69.8%, pvalue 0.0013), but other PK parameters Cmax, Tmax, and Kel were close to the control group. CONCLUSION: PK/PD-based herb-drug interaction was observed. Concurrently administered garden cress + GLZ showed improved antidiabetic effect and has enhanced GLZ bioavailability.

Losartan potassium sustained release pellets with improved in vitro and in vivo performance.

The aim of this study was to formulate and evaluate SR matrix pellets containing losartan potassium (LP) solid dispersion using extrusion-spheronization technique to minimize the fluctuation of its plasma concentration. LP solid dispersions were prepared by using different hydrophobic polymers at different weight ratios (0.5, 1, 2, and 5%). LP-Eudragit RS solid dispersion at 1:5 ratio resulted in slower drug release (only 20% of LP was released in about 8 h). Different concentrations of hydrophilic polymer, PEG 6000, were mixed with Avicel® PH 101 to prepare the LP SR matrix pellets containing solid dispersion using 32 full factorial design to evaluate the effects of formulation parameters on the pellets attributes. The magnitude of torque for the pellet wet masses and binder ratio were decreased significantly with increasing PEG 6000 concentration. LP sustained release pellet formula composed of 9.24% PEG 6000 and 8 × 10-9% PVP K30 solution was chosen as optimized formula. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that calculated t max was 9.72 ± 2.22 h from the optimized sustained release pellets compared to 2.11 ± 0.49 h in case of Cozaar® immediate release tablet, indicating a slower release of the LP from pellets.

Understanding and managing oral bioavailability: physiological concepts and patents.

Oral delivery of poorly bioavailable therapeuticals is challenging. The challenges are more serious when physiological factors of gut such as cytochrome P450, P-glycoprotein, permeability, pH triggered precipitation and degradation are responsible for poor bioavailability. P-Glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance is on high agenda for anti-cancer drugs. The present article compiled different methodologies used to curb these challenges of bioavailability. The concepts of poor bioavailability are illustrated along with possible management. Numerous relevant patents for bioavailability enhancement are also highlighted. Though, there is no universal approach for bioavailability enhancement, the drug related challenges are managed by altering its physicochemical characteristics or employing formulation technology, while the effects of physiological factors are minimized by using efflux transport inhibitor or cytochrome P-450 inhibitor or prodrug or through formulation technologies (enteric coating or microenvironment of pH etc.).